Power Kite Forum

How to ship a buggy overseas ?

khaakon - 17-9-2018 at 04:16 AM

I am going to Cape Town for 3 weeks in november. I'd like to find out if I can ship my buggy from Norway to ZA and back, without it getting too complicated or expensive. If anybody has any recommandations for a shipping company, or if anybody has any experience about declarations and other formalities I need to tackle when sending sports equipment from Europe to South Africa.

I will be staying close to the kitesurfers at Bloubergstrand /Big Bay, but I am more of a landlubber, and want to kite with buggy or ATB. I am not even sure if can rent a buggy in Cape Town - maybe goodhopeadventures. But I would really like to have my own buggy if at all possible. If anyone knows about anybody I can contact for buggying on the beaches down there, it would be absolutely faaaantastic.

Bladerunner - 17-9-2018 at 02:49 PM

Try and conact Kiteboyza . Dieter is from South Africa and buggies. I know he kitesurfed there.

If he does not reply I can contact Him on facebook for you.

Windstruck - 17-9-2018 at 04:51 PM

I gotta believe it would cost you an arm and a leg to get a buggy to and from South Africa from Northern Europe, not to mention the hassle and stress wondering if everything would go well. In your shoes I'd be contacting this outfit and seeing if they could rent you a buggy. I suspect they are sort of beginner PL buggies (from the pictures on their website) but they would get you rolling. You're a SS deciple so you could bring a few Peaks, Stars, one bar, and your harness in a checked bag and be all set if you could get wheels under you.

Good luck! Could be a lot of fun.

khaakon - 18-9-2018 at 12:49 AM

Yes, it's probably too expensive, and slow as well. But I've yet to find out exactly.

Hopefully I can rent a buggy, if shipping my own gets too expensive. I don't have an arm and a leg to spare.

cheezycheese - 18-9-2018 at 05:17 AM

What about a golf bag carry on...?

khaakon - 18-9-2018 at 06:39 AM

Don't think I can fit the whole buggy in such a bag, wheels are 3x Midi XL 19". My friend in ZA also meant that the cost (of separate shipping) is probably too high for the benefit. Given, of course, that I actually can rent a buggy down there and cruise the beaches. I will contact goodhopeadventures anyday soon. But I still would like to find out what the cost is for shipping a crate of sorts. My guess would be I could build one in say; 150x50x 60(?)/ 75(?) cm size, weight >50kg.

jimbocz - 19-9-2018 at 02:27 AM

I've taken my buggy on a plane in a golf bag. Took a few kites as well, but I had barrow wheels.
Would recommend renting one when you get there if at all possible.

kiteboyza - 29-9-2018 at 01:52 PM

My buggy splits and fits in a hockey bag, 140cm axle. I pay for an extra bag, simple as that. Its a fairly big buggy,
Hope this helps

khaakon - 14-10-2018 at 11:50 AM

Yes, thanks guys. It's clear to me now that international shipping is quite expensive. Even the generally steep charges for special baggage at any airline becomes cheap comparably. Furthermore I then bring it with, instead of organizing pickup & deliver at some terminal somewhere, and the long wait for shipping, and, and, and..

I ended up not bringing or shipping the buggy, but 1 extra bag full with kites for the cost of 1 additional baggage with KLM.

I've been in contact with Matt at Goodhopeadventures, certainly seems a friendly guy, unfortunately he's got only 1 buggy - but hopefully I can rent it for some days during the almost 3 weeks I'll be in CT. Looking forward to a nice holiday with kiting on the beaches in the ZA sun. :cool: